Agricultural Biotechnology in Turkey AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY Agricultural Biotechnology in Turkey Mehmet Inan, Ph.D. Food Safety and Agricultural Research Center Akdeniz University, Antalya-Turkey

Background Turkey is an agricultural country and has a considerable amount of agricultural production potential in terms of soil, climate and water resources. 4 Million farmer in Turkey 22 Million depends on agriculture for a living in Turkey. 

Background Situated between Europe and the Middle East Forest land occupies about 42 percent of the country, and 40 percent of agricultural land is occupied by field crops, fruit-trees and vegetable crops. Turkey is an important fruit producer country. Turkey’s fresh fruit & vegetable production is approximately 47 million tons. Average farm size is 6 hectares 3/05/2014

Threats Changes in climate and wider global warming are challenging productivity Increases in both population and food consumption pose a considerable threat to food security. Emerging Plant diseases, immunity of pathogens to chemical agents Water shortage Misuse of arable land, urbanization

Enhanced use of technology & innovation Biotechnology in agriculture Opportunities Enhanced use of technology & innovation Biotechnology in agriculture 3/05/2014

Why is agricultural biotechnology important? Food Safety Food Security Nutrition

Agricultural biotechnology Agricultural biotechnology includes a range of tools that scientists employ to understand and manipulate the genetic make-up of organisms for use in the production or processing of agricultural products.

Biotech Crops in the World 3/05/2014

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Biosafety Law in Turkey The Biosafety Law went into effect on September 26, 2010 As of May 1, 2015, there are 25 corn and seven soy events approved for feed use only in Turkey Soybean and corn are approved for animal feed not for food In October 2014, Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock (MinFAL) began requiring a government attestation that imports of enzymes and microorganisms, and products that utilize them, are not obtained from genetic engineering.

In May, 2015, MinFAL decided not to continue the requirement for enzymes or for products that utilized enzymes in their manufacture. However, for microorganisms, importers are still required to provide a biotech-free certificate. Turkey has zero tolerance for the detection of unapproved GE traits Any imported food or feed containing GE crops above the labeling threshold (0.9%) must be labeled. Turkey ratified the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol on October 24, 2003 and entered it into force on January 24, 2004

Biosafety Law in Turkey Biosafety Law permits the regulated study and development of plant biotechnology Permit is not required for agricultural biotech research. The researcher must inform MinFAL Agricultural Research and Policies General Directorate (TAGEM) about the research activity and its result(s). The law bans the production of genetically engineered animals and plants. Importation of transgenic seeds is also forbidden by the Law Due to insufficient domestic production and increasing demand, Turkey imports significant quantities of feed crops for its poultry and livestock sectors.

Biotechnology Strategy and Action Plan High Planning Council (HPC) of Turkey adopted the “Biotechnology Strategy and Action Plan” for 2015-2018 The Plan covers all aspect of biotechnology agricultural, health, industrial owned by very high level government authority The Prime Minister and Ministers

Strategy and Action Plan to regulate the legal and administrative structure, to improve technical infrastructure, to increase production capacity, to improve agricultural, health and industrial biotechnology sectors

Conclusion Agriculture holds an important place in the Turkish economy. To achieve its development goals, what should be implemented high-tech irrigation practices in agriculture Versatile application of equipment for seeds, fertilisers and crop protection products Soil and water management Advances in crop mapping and recording equipment Enhancing adoption of animal breeding and reproduction technologies in farms biotic and abiotic stress monitoring/ assessment technologies in crop systems

Embryo and semen production, evaluation and storage technologies. Using genomic tools to improve animal and plant breeding. Tissue culturing (or other culture methods) to decrease the duration of variety development. Assisted breeding and reproduction technologies such as artificial insemination, or embryo transfer, and other related technologies